Economics & Development

Merit-based appointments are regarded by education stakeholders in Simbu as vital to the strength of the education system in the province. This case study briefly explains the importance of merit-based appointments, promotions and dismissals to the effectiveness of public administration, and the contrasting adverse effects of nepotistic-based human resource decisions, before describing how meritocracy has been promoted and upheld in Simbu. It also explores some of the vulnerabilities and challenges of meritocracy in Simbu, and highlights the wider implications of Simbu’s experience. Unless indicated otherwise, the quotations included are from interviews with past and present senior officials and education stakeholders in Simbu.

This document relates to the IFC Project Number 52354.

This Country Climate and Development Report (CCDR) for Malaysia highlights the importance of aligning development goals with climate objectives. As the country aims to transition to high-income status by 2030, it is crucial to address the challenges posed by climate change. This report emphasizes the criticality of integrating resilient and sustainable practices into the nation’s growth strategy. Achieving this will not only ensure long-term economic stability, it will also bolster Malaysia’s ability to withstand and adapt to climate-related impacts. Malaysia faces a dual challenge: attaining high-income status, while transitioning to a low-carbon, climate-resilient economy. While the shift from an agrarian economy to a manufacturing and service-driven one has brought substantial economic gains, it has also introduced environmental stresses. High energy demand, primarily met by fossil fuels, has led to significant greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Urban expansion and industrial growth have placed pressure on land and ecosystems. Balancing continued progress with sustainable stewardship is essential for Malaysia’s future resilience and prosperity. This CCDR offers analysis and guidance on how Malaysia can pursue resilient and sustained growth, while addressing the dynamically evolving climate change crisis. With macro modeling and sectoral analysis, it identifies major climate challenges, estimates potential impacts of climate risks on economic development, and provides tailored policy recommendations.

This document relates to the IFC Project Number 51794.

This Verification Report presents the World Bank Inspection Panel’s assessment of the implementation of the Board-approved Management Action Plan (MAP) for the Togo West Africa Coastal Areas Resilience Investment Project, Additional Financing, and Global Environment Facility. On September 30, 2024, Management submitted to the Board its first Progress Report on the MAP implementation. On June 12, 2025, the Panel submitted to the Board a Recommendation for the Verification of the Implementation of the MAP, which the Board approved on June 30, 2025. Developed in response to findings of non-compliance identified in the Panel’s 2023 Investigation Report, the MAP addresses adverse impacts on vulnerable groups, including fishers, women, elderly persons, and children, whose livelihoods, health, and safety were affected by project activities. In its Verification Recommendation submitted to Board for approval of the verification, the Panel established that the Project meets seven of the eight indicators set out as questions in the Verification Framework. The Panel verified that Management’s actions to (i) commission a study of the evolution of beach seine fishing on the West African coast and (ii) ensure that the Bank’s efforts are coordinated with FAO’s ongoing work in the area in Togo, were completed. The Panel verified that, as indicated in the MAP, the Fisheries Study describes challenges and opportunities for beach seine fishing in Togo. The Panel notes that the study made several recommendations, particularly related to best practices for fishers. The Panel observes that this Study can be an important contribution to supporting the adaptation of fishing and related practices to WACA’s interventions, thereby contributing to global knowledge.

The note provides a practical framework for government officials and practitioners, across ministries of finance, planning, energy, environment, and related agencies, engaged in the formulation and updating of LTSs and NDCs. Its specific focus is the integration of decisions on carbon pricing instruments (CPIs) and international carbon credit markets (ICMs) into national climate planning processes. CPIs and ICMs are not standalone solutions. They are parts of a coherent policy mix, alongside regulatory standards, public investment, and institutional capacity development, and are relevant only where they genuinely fit a country’s development priorities, institutional capacities, and sectoral realities. A well-designed domestic carbon price can reduce emissions, mobilize fiscal revenues, and generate economic signals that support private investment in low carbon sectors. ICMs offer potential pathways to access climate finance and improve cost-effectiveness, though their effectiveness depends heavily on design, governance, and the integrity of mitigation outcomes. The question this note addresses is not whether these instruments are valuable in principle, but how and when to integrate decisions about them into the national climate planning cycle, so that they reinforce rather than undermine long-term decarbonization goals.